British High Court Orders Paddy Power To Pay £1 Million Jackpot
The British high court has ordered the Irish online casino Paddy Power to pay a £1 million jackpot after initially only £20,000 due to an alleged software error. The British judge, Judge Andrew Ritchie has ruled that the international casino must pay out the NZD 2.3 million prize claiming that a “player needs to get what he or she sees on their screen”.
In 2020, the online casino refused to pay Corrinne Durber her winnings after she hit the jackpot on Wild Hatter by Red Tiger Gaming. The casino argued that the on-screen notification was incorrect and that Durber was only entitled to the daily jackpot. Despite the message showing a £1 million win, the offshore casino paid out just £20,265.14 (converted: NZD 40,000), claiming a software error was to blame.
Make Sure To Read: UK Gaming White Paper Will Influence Australian Reform
“What You See Is What You Get”
Durber took legal action against PPB Entertainment Limited, the company behind Paddy Power, arguing that the casino had breached their contract. The British court has now ruled in her favour. In his ruling, Judge Andrew Ritchie emphasised that in online gambling, players should receive exactly what is displayed on their screen. According to Ritchie, players should be able to trust what they see on their screen, calling “what you see is what you get” a key principle of online gambling. He made his point by comparing this the setting of land-based casinos, stating:
“Players should be able to rely on what’s displayed on their screen. The same goes for brick-and-mortar casinos: if you place a bet on 13 in Roulette and the ball lands on that number, you expect that result to stand.”
Judge Andrew Ritchie
Make Sure To Read: UK Gambling White Paper Consultations Officially Published
Three Years Of Uncertainty
Following the ruling, Durber expressed relief but made it clear she would never play at Paddy Power again:
“I’m incredibly relieved and happy that the court confirmed I fairly won £1 million at Paddy Power. But I can’t understand why they didn’t just pay out immediately instead of putting me through this legal nightmare. I’ll never play there again and would advise others to be cautious with this casino.”
Corrinne Durber, £1 Million jackpot winner
Paddy Power said it “regrets” the ruling, adding that it always aims to provide the best possible gaming experience for its customers. It has also informed The Guardian that it will “thoroughly study the case” without revealing what steps will be taken.
Make Sure To Read: 1% Increase in Tax Rate For UK Online Casinos
About Paddy Power
Paddy Power is an Irish gambling company that was founded in 1988. Initially, it focussed on offline gambling products but is now globally available through its online platform. The company is best known for their sportsbook, but their product offering also includes online casino, online poker, and online bingo. Business operations are led from their head office in Dublin, alongside a satellite office in Malta. In February 2016, Paddy Power and Betfair merged into Flutter Entertainment. Other brands offered by Flutter are Betfair, PokerStars and Sportsbet. Paddy Power’s website is not accessible in New Zealand.
Make Sure To Read: How SkyCity Operates in New Zealand With an Offshore Licence
